Revitalized Downtown Rock Island is “Back From the Dead”
By Jonathan Turner
The recent downtown Rock Island Halloween-themed festival, “Back From The Dead,” was so aptly named.
Coined last year for the first such event by Brandy VandeWalle, owner of Skeleton Key Art and Antiques, the phrase carried double meaning – both to celebrate spooky season in October, and the downtown’s gradual resurgence, as it works to recover from many vacant buildings, beloved business closings, and the grueling 18-month downtown revitalization project, which cost nearly $9 million and was completed in time for this fall’s Oct. 11-12 family-friendly activities.
The heart of Rock Island has held a big spot in my heart for 30 years, as I spent three action-packed eras working there: the first two in the beautiful, landmark Argus building (1724 4th Ave., vacant since 2008) and later in the architecturally drab WHBF-TV station, a stone’s throw away (213 18th St.).
The long vacant Rock Island Argus building (left), next to the new federal courthouse at 1701 4th Ave.
In the halcyon late ‘90s days of the former Downtown Rock Island Arts & Entertainment District (known as The District), bars and restaurants were hopping, including the popular RIBCO and Theo’s Java Club Café. Like any bustling downtown should have, me and my Argus pals enjoyed having a hot dog lady selling lunch options on the pedestrian plaza that was the 1800 block of 2nd Avenue.
An evening view of the restored 1800 block of 2nd Avenue (a former pedestrian plaza), with wide sidewalks, two lanes of traffic and no curbs.
The past two years – true to the city’s name – have been rocky, as many key chunks of downtown were torn up for agonizingly long stretches, as the city had its $8.7-million Rebuild Downtown Rock Island Project underway, fortunately which was funded without the use of strictly local taxpayer dollars. In two consecutive Decembers (’23 and ’24), both RIBCO and Theo’s unfortunately closed. But the impressive slate of infrastructure improvements include:
- “Welcome to Downtown Rock Island” archway and sign across from Schwiebert Riverfront Park at 1st Avenue and 18th Street
- Total reconstruction and streetscaping of four blocks
- Decorative lighting and landscaping
- Renovation of Arts Alley, including the addition of two custom vendor stalls for pop-up activities and two large-scale murals
- Conversion of a former parking lot at 2nd Avenue and 18th Street into a green space for recreation and special events
- Ten sidewalk patio areas at existing bars & restaurants
- Rock Island block letters for photo opportunities
- Installation of a mini-roundabout at the intersection of 2nd Avenue and 18th Street
New outdoor patio areas (here outside Huckleberry's Pizza) along 18th Street, leading to a new welcome sign at 1st Avenue, across from Schwiebert Riverfront Park.
It seems a cleaner, and more spacious city (with 25-foot-wide sidewalks and no curbs on the 2nd Avenue stretch), more inviting to both pedestrians and vehicles, with attractive hanging flower baskets hung along 18th Street (a la downtown Davenport). But now that Rock Island’s sprawling table is set for the holidays, we have to wait more to see if guests will arrive, and—more importantly—stay.
New hanging flower baskets also help beautify 18th Street in downown Rock Island.
The long-awaited opening of the new federal courthouse (at 18th and 4th Ave.) is expected soon, and expected to bring a needed jolt to existing businesses downtown. And 2nd Avenue is ripe for redevelopment, with three new food-and-drink establishments committed to opening.
Zach Edwards – a financial adviser, who’s a Rocky alum, a fan of Rock Island Brewing Company (RIBCO), a supporter of adaptive re-use of historic buildings, and a cheerleader for downtown’s rebound – has bought RIBCO (1815 2nd Ave.) and is planning to reopen the long-running institution before Thanksgiving, continuing its live music tradition.
Recently, Edwards told me it is the “heart and soul of downtown, the pulse of downtown,” and “I thought getting this can be the first domino that falls here to trigger a larger downtown redevelopment.” He hopes to redevelop the neighborhood, with so many other vacant buildings in the immediate area.
The building dates from the late 19th century, and the original Rock Island Brewing Co. dates from 1893, when Littig and Co. and two other breweries merged to form Rock Island Brewing Co. The brewery operated until 1920, closing with the advent of Prohibition. RIBCO has 14 beer taps and Edwards wants to feature QC breweries (and possibly from Iowa City). Before its closing in December 2023, RIBCO served great food and live entertainment since 1979.
On Sept. 25, the Rock Island Downtown Alliance held a Rebuild Downtown Rock Island Celebration on the nearby Green Lawn at 1801 2nd Ave., and the former Daiquiri Factory space there will house a new bagel and sandwich shop – Blue Collar Bagels – but there’s no firm timetable for their opening.
Just a couple blocks west, the city has approved a planned $3.8-million development of the three-story, historic building at 1600 2nd Ave., which was formerly occupied by Sound Conservatory (until fall 2023). The city council in August approved a development agreement with Jeremy Moskowitz (chef at Duck City Bistro, Davenport) and two partners, who have bought the 1901 building and plan to redevelop it for a ground-floor restaurant and upper-floor market-rate apartments. That is very exciting news as well.
No longer “The District,” the downtown has a new alliance and special service area district (with added tax revenue) working constantly to pump time and resources into its needed resurrection. The new brand is “Unapologetically Authentic,” promoting itself as “real,” “creative,” “diverse” and “resilient.” Its business owners and residents certainly have had to be resilient and patient.
I was heartened in recent visits to see The Speakeasy (next to the iconic Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse) packed for a comedy competition, and the perennially popular QC Coffee & Pancake House also full on a Saturday. Next door, the priceless Center for Living Arts (which serves kids in grades 1-12) is in its 20th season in the historic former Rocket Theater.
Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse, 1828 3rd Ave., is showing “Come From Away” through Nov. 1.
A packed Circa '21 Speakeasy for the recent finals of a stand-up comedy competition.
The QC Coffee Pancake House and Center for Living Arts at 19th Street and 3rd Ave., Rock Island.
Quad City Arts has a wonderful current exhibit in its main gallery (1715 2nd Ave.) celebrating Hispanic life and culture, and its restored Arts Alley is awe-inspiring, especially the massive permanent public murals, by Atlanta Dawn and Nicole Salgar. There are also new public murals (courtesy of Alternating Currents) on the side of Skellington Manor (check out its amazing haunted house through Nov. 2) and the 3rd Avenue wall of WHBF. As a passionate supporter of the arts, I hope Rock Island never loses – and in fact keeps enhancing – its invaluable artistic role in the QC.
“On the Air,” a new mural by Matthew Mederer of Chicago, enlivens the 3rd Avenue wall along the WHBF-TV transmission tower.
A painting in the new Hispanic art exhibit at Quad City Arts downtown Rock Island gallery, through Dec. 5, 2025.
That is a vital ingredient – as in any successful city—to help bring businesses, visitors and residents to the table, to feast and enjoy.
Jonathan Turner is a veteran journalist and piano player, who has made the QC home since 1995 and loves writing about arts and culture. He is the author of the books “A Brief History of Bucktown: Davenport's Infamous District Transformed,” and “100 Things To Do in the Quad Cities Before You Die”.